Tea-Ponics?

[jackalope]

Since there's no such thing as compost-tea-ponics, I'll put it here in aeroponics ...... I have three tomato plants in a rubbermaid with watered down compost tea from the worm bed. Not a good idea .... I have two air bubblers going 24/7 so there will be oxygen and the plants and roots won't rot, but after a few weeks, it's foul!! there's a layer of some kind of black algae on the water/tea, the lower leaves are turning yellow, and it stinks like carrion (dead meat) :(
Today, I just dumped all the compost tea/water on the garden and I'm using up some organic hydroponics fertilizer solution I had left over . Any ways, I just wanted to say that Tea-Ponics (no relation to the Tea Party) is a dud, at least for me ;).

[badflash]

You have to use a flood & drain system. I have my tomatoes in huge pots. They get watered with worm tea and drain off. They are exploding. They may need a little iron though as they are quite as green as I'd like.

[jackalope]

I didn't have the room for a F&D, so I was just doing it hydroponically, I don't want to poison the fish ;) Were you referring to chelated iron? I've heard of chelated iron for hydroponics, but I don't know if I could get it around here ....... and I don't want to pay for shipping to get it from Bozeman.

[badflash]

Basically just a little rust. No need to have it shipped. Iron is an essential nutrient in plants needed for photosynthesis.

Hydroponics requires flood & drain in most cases. Loads of plants can't handle having their roots under water all the time, bubbles or not. If you sit the pot on a 5 gallon bucket and let the stuff drain into there, you can keep cycling through the same tea until you need to change it out. Just do it with the same frequency as watering.

[wolfracer]

Is this straight out of the worm beds or are you percholating it?

[jackalope]

Is this straight out of the worm beds or are you percholating it?

Straight out of the worm beds! I thinned it about half and half with water.

[dufflight]

With the air going it would start to brew again. I keep a 150ltr of compost\worm\fish poo brewing all the time. The air runs 24\7 to keep the batch from turning. I add a few things every now and then. Sugar kick starts it again.

[jackalope]

With the air going it would start to brew again. I keep a 150ltr of compost\worm\fish poo brewing all the time. The air runs 24\7 to keep the batch from turning. I add a few things every now and then. Sugar kick starts it again.
Good to know, thanks ;)

[mommyhen42]

I know this is not an aquaponics solution but it does work

Here is what I am doing and it seems to work wonders!
items you need
2 5 gallon buckets
1 lid
electric screwdriver
sharp pocket knife
Small clay pot with hole

first bucket you cut/drill a 2-4" hole in the center of the bottom of the bucket (size depends on the opening of your clay pot)
take the second bucket and place the clay pot in the center if the bucket
set the second bucket inside the first and position the pot so that it is directly under the hole.
look at the bucket thru a strong light to find where the bottom of the second bucket is inside the first.
When you find that spot you will drill a 1/4-1/2 inch hole for drainage and oxygen admission
Fill the inside pot with compost, potting mix and vermapost till full.
Cut a 6" ring out of the center of the lid and place the lid on the top bucket.

Plant your tomatoes in there and water every couple of weeks with your worm tea.

You do have a second option

take a bucket and place a hole inside it just large enough to cram a piece of tubing into it.
Fill the bucket with rocks or gravel
take a second container and keep your worm tea there, place a small pump inside this bucket and if possible position it below the level of the gravel bucket.
Set the pump on a timer to flood the bucket to your desired level how ever many times a day you wish.
the pump will flood the bucket and when it shuts off the solution will drain back into your tea container. I use a similar system with my in ground baby pond to grow my veggies in my garden instead of the ground. We have way too many varmints here that will quickly eat everything tender that grows in the ground!

[dgunlock]

Jackalope - wouldn't this be leachate you are using? if so, from what I have read - it should not be used, or at least aerated and left standing for a few days. I am not familiar with this, but I know others here might chime in....
Dan

[keith_r]

you can get a quart of maxicrop with iron pretty cheap on amazon